Re: Educational crises: Sorting, sexual harassment and allied matters

Ik Muo’s article titled “Educational crises: Sorting, sexual harassment and allied matters” (BusinessDay, July 9, 2013) was well thought-out and piquant. The article buttressed in its holistic nature the epidemic of sexual harassment, sorting, amongst other bottlenecks that have contributed in crippling the Nigerian educational system.

Put simply, if sexual harassment is cited as “unwanted letters, telephone calls, sexual jokes, referring to an adult as babe, or honey, whistling at someone, touching an employees’ clothing, giving personal gifts, looking at someone lustfully, and following the person” as Muo noted, then it will be a better option to implement measures that will aid in limiting sorting in the Nigerian tertiary institutions (giving out money in exchange for grades) than sexual harassment. Any effort that will be geared towards tackling sexual harassment will prove abortive, making reference to the high level of promiscuity of both sexes. This moral decadence is not only restricted to the Nigerian educational system, it is has extended to all sectors of the economy over the years. In the long run, it has proliferated in recent times.

In most cases, sexual harassment is usually allied, basically on quid-pro-quo grounds between two the parties. Seeking sexual gratification in exchange for favours is usually the order of the day in most tertiary institutions, not only between the lecturers and the students, but also amongst the students. Some persons (it could be male or female), more often than not of a higher echelon, are keen at offering all forms of assistance to their female counterparts so as to use it as a medium to satisfy their ill intentions. On the other hand, the females need not be mentored on that because they are not usually taken aback if eventually the sexual advances come up. The idea of sexual advances by the problem-solver is usually sensed by the solution-seeker if they have no alternatives to tackle their outstanding need or needs.

I chose the phrase “outstanding need” because this need (or needs) is (are) usually indispensable to the solution-seeker, and in most cases could be solved by some persons that possess exclusive powers to tackle such need. Even the most religious trying to meet such need could contravene some moral and religious ethics by complying with the sexual advances of the solution provider. These needs usually emanate from seeking employment from the public and private sectors, scores upgrading by the students, promotion, amongst others. On the other hand, non-compliance from the solution-seeker definitely leads to deprivation which is usually catastrophic.

Now take a critical look at the Nigerian civil service and other organisations. One of the attributes of Nigerian civil service is meritocracy, which actually entails that the Nigerian civil service must embrace meritocracy. Alas, mediocrity has replaced meritocracy!

In the Nigerian civil service recruitment, promotion and any other form of competition were meant to be on merit, but this codified requisite has been jeopardised. This is simply because obsessed ladies apply all deceptive measures using their body so as to get what they need. This also goes a long way to heighten the already inbuilt amorous desires of men. If a lady is in a position to seduce a man, such a lady may also want the man to dance to her tune. Therefore, it’s a two-way thing that could be hardly salvaged.

Another bottleneck associated with the Nigerian educational system which is “sorting” as noted by Ik Muo could be easily tackled if proper measures are put in place. Sorting is the highest level of academic corruption that is like an air which has circulated across all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. This bad omen does not only contribute to producing millions of graduates yearly who have little or no idea of basics, but also causes damage to the reputation of the Nigerian education system. Lecturers have agents known as course representatives; these representatives are the avenue through which deficient students gratify the lecturers so as to obtain good grades. The students give money to the course representatives and the lecturer receives the money through them. This bad omen has being linked to the poor remuneration of lecturers, but this is not true. Most lecturers earn enough that could sustain them for a long period of time.

Interestingly, most tertiary institutions have some anti-corruption agencies that handle corrupt practices; some have also tried to apprehend some course representatives who are involved in the unscrupulous act. On the long run, the culprits still find their way out. There is the need to lay stringent sanctions on the lecturers who are involved in this act. Despite the anti-corruption agencies in the tertiary institutions, the lecturers still forge ahead to make these ill-gotten wealth from students who do not prioritise their academic pursuits.

Efforts being made can only be effective if the anti-corruption agencies follow the due process by laying heavy sanctions on students and lecturers who are involved in the act of sorting and not handling issues with fear or favour. On the other hand, the issue of sexual harassment could be difficult to handle because it is usually allied. Let’s curb the sorting aspect of academic corruption; it will go a long way to the benefits of the entire nation. 

Justice Okamgba is a second year student from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State. He is on industrial trainning with Businessday

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